France, WSF, Korea ... International left solidarity with the Egyptian people's uprising

Below are a number of statements and reports of solidarity actions around the world following the overthrow of the US-backed Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak. They include a statement from organisations attending the New Anti-Capitalist Party congress in France, solidarity from the World Social Forum in Dakar, Senegal, a statement by leaders of the Socialist Party USA and a report on trade union organised protests in South Korea. Check back for more.

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Statement from
left organisations present at the New Anti-Capitalist Party congress

February 12,
2011 -- The overthrow of Ben Ali and Mubarak change the political situation not
only in the Maghreb but on the international scale.

Popular
revolutions which have put an end to dictatorships supported for decades by US
and European imperialisms are giving back confidence to all the Arab peoples
and strike a devastating blow to the imperialist and Zionist order in the
region.

Jordanian,
Yemenite, Iraqi, Algerian and Palestinian populations have already taken to the
street to demand political changes.

These
revolutions are the direct impact of the international economic crisis and of
the diktats of the IMF and the World Bank which impose a radical social
offensive and the impoverishment of populations already suffering from decades
of policies of social injustice and corruption.

These two
revolutions open the way not only to democratic demands to break with the
dictatorships, but also to the questioning of capitalist economic systems which
are the cause of so much injustice. Social issues were at the source of the
popular insurrections.

Imperialism is
going to do everything to safeguard its positions in the region and stop the
anti-imperialist development of processes at work and their propagating in the
region.

This means
that the Tunisian and Egyptian peoples, the forces which want to open a
anti-imperialist and socialist road in those countries, need the solidarity and
the active support of revolutionaries of anti-imperialist movements, of social
and trade union movements of the whole world.

We are committing ourselves, each
and everyone of us, in our countries, our regions, to developing this
solidarity especially in order to fight against the attacks which international
institutions and capitalist groups are already wreaking in order to stop any
social and economic furthering of these emerging revolutions, and to using this
magnificent example to stimulate the mobilisations against the debt and the
demands of the IMF.

Long live the
Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions!

International
solidarity!

Note: The World Social Forum Social Movements Assembly in Dakar has launched
an appeal for a worldwide day of demonstrations on March 20, 2011.

Signed by:

Argentina: MST

Australia: Socialist Alliance

Belgium: LCR/SAP

Brazil: Party of Liberation and Socialism (PSOL)

England: Socialist Workers
Party; Counterfire

Canada: Socialist caucus of the New Democratic Party

Catalonia: En Lluita

Corsica: A. Manca

Euskadi (Basque Country): Askapena

France: NPA

Greece: SEK; DEA

Indonesia: KPRM-PRD; Working People’s Association (PRP)

Iraq: Iraq Freedom Congress; Union of Communists-Iraq

Ireland: Socialist Workers Party

Italy: Sinistra Crítica

La Réunion: NPAR

Martinique: GRS

Mexico: PRT

Peru: PRT

Poland: PPP

Portugal: Bloco de Esquerda (Left Bloc)

South Korea: New Progressive Party; Institute of the 21th Century
Korean Research; KDLP -- Paris Committee

February 12, 2011, Sydney -- What was scheduled to be another rally in support of
the Egyptian people's revolution against the hated Mubarak dictatorship
turned into a spontaneous celebration after the hated dictator was
toppled overnight. As one sign declared: "Congratulations Egypt -- never
underestimate people power". Photos by Peter Boyle.

Socialism and the spirit of Tahrir Square

By Andrea Pason and Billy Wharton, co-chairs Socialist Party USA

Tahrir Square transformed the idea of
democracy from a stale ritual that occurs every few years to an open
ended struggle for freedom.

February 11, 2011 -- Socialist WebZine -- We
send greetings to the working people of Egypt on the day of their
victorious struggle to depose the dictator Hosni Mubarak. Their
grassroots movement provides definitive proof to the world that radical
political activity can change the course of history. The activities of
the protesters in Tahrir Square transformed the idea of democracy from a
stale ritual that occurs every few years to an open ended struggle for
freedom. We are inspired by the example provided by this mass revolt of
the Egyptian people.

It is particularly important to recognise the central contribution made by the working
class to the defeat of the dictator. While the occupation of the
square and the street demonstrations in several cities galvanised the
resistance, it was the mass strikes carried out by the workers that
broke the back of the regime. On February 9 thousands of workers
demonstrated the ability to shutdown the entire society and economy
until their demands were met. After these mass strikes, the regime
understood that surrender was its only option.

The victory of Tahrir Square need not be an isolated one – limited only to the removal
of one dictatorial regime. The revolt was as much about the conditions
imposed on Egyptians by capitalism – the lack of food, the
unemployment, the poor housing, the declining environment – as it was
about Mubarak. We can all join in the spirit of struggle initiated in
Cairo by demanding a democratic socialist society where the needs of
human beings are placed ahead of those of corporations.

See
Tahrir Square for what it is – an open-ended struggle for freedom. And
what the dissident voices in Egypt and many others parts of world are
demanding are things that capitalism cannot deliver. In Egypt, the
reorganisation of an independent trade union movement, the experiences
of direct democracy in the protests and the revitalisation of a
socialist left in the country offer greatest hope for advancing the
political agenda for economic freedom developed in Tahrir Square.

As
socialists located in the United Staes, we pledge to continue to do our part in
the international struggle for socialism. We see our own political
activity as a part of the larger international movement for jobs, peace
and freedom. As a part of a Socialism for the 21st Century!

South Korean support for the Egyptian revolution

February 13, 2011 -- On February 8 the Korean Confederation of Trade
Unions (KCTU) held a protest in front of the Egyptian embassy in Seoul to as
part of the “International Day of Solidarity Action”. The KCTU expressed its
support for the Egyptian protesters and its solidarity with the newly
established Egyptian Federation of Trade Unions.

Speakers at the rally drew parallels between
the struggle in Egypt and South Korea’s struggle for democracy in the 1980s, in
which militant unions and radical students were at the forefront of the
struggle against military rule.

“The struggle of Egyptian people reminded me
the June Struggle for Democracy in 1987. The people who have suffered from the
dictatorship for 30 years is now crying for freedom, rights to work and
democracy. KCTU is standing by workers and people in Egypt. We will use every
endeavour to support the courageous struggle” commented Jeong Ui-heon, first
vice-president of the KCTU.

After speeches were made, Jeong Ui-heon tried
to enter the embassy to give a protest letter to the Egyptian ambassador.
However, police blocked the entrance of the embassy and the embassy also
refused to accept the letter. In response to this Jeong ripped up the letter
and threw it over the wall of the building.

On February 11, a crowd of Koreans and
Egyptians gathered in front of the Egyptian embassy in Seoul for one more
protest against the Mubarak regime. There were speakers in English, Arabic and
Korean. As the protesters called for Mubarak to step down, little did they know
that within hours their dreams of freedom for Egypt would come true.

Above and below: February
11 protest in solidarity with Egypt.Source: www.left21.com.

Above: Flyer for the February 11 protest in solidarity with Egypt. Source: www.left21.com.

Egyptian people’s struggle
is right!

Korean
Confederation of Trade Unions

February 8, 2011 – The KCTU
fully supports the protest of workers and people of Egypt!

The Egyptian peoples
struggle against the 30 year of pro-US dictatorship has been continuing for
more than 15 days. On February 8, the day which has been decided as a “Day of
Solidarity Action for Egyptian People” by the International Trade Union
Confederation (ITUC), its affiliates in 151 countries start their solidarity
action including presenting protest letters to the Egyptian embassies. KCTU
welcomes the ITUC’s decision and will use every endeavour.

The claims of Egyptian
people are right. Their demand for a minimum wage and the right to work is
the same as the demand of the KCTU and Korean workers, and Korean people, who
have experienced the series of military dictatorships of Park Jung-hee, Chun
Du-hwan and Roh Tae-woo, fully sympathise with their demand for an abolition
of the emergency laws. The international community already turned its back on
the rule by the iron fist of Mubarak and is urging his resignation and
transition to the democracy. The United States, which has stood by the
anti-democracy of Egyptian governments for the sake of its hegemony, is at a
loss which way to go.

The KCTU, which has its
root in the Gwang-ju People’s Uprising in 1980 and the June struggle for democracy
and following great struggle of workers in 1987, is paying special attention
to the Egyptian Federation for Independent Unions, which has been newly
established against the government’s national centre. The federation has led
the general strike and struggled strongly together with other organisations, including
the April 6 Youth Movement, and was launched in the middle of the ongoing
struggle. The federation is determined to fight to the end despite the ruling
class’s suppression. Its demand for the right to work, a minimum wage, free
education and unemployment compensation, which meet the people’s basic demand
for livelihood, is absolutely supported by the people.

Egypt is attracting the
world’s attention. We firmly believe that the workers and people in Egypt
will win the victory despite of the merciless oppression and sabotage of the
Mubarak regime and the manipulation of the United State. The KCTU states its
solidarity and support with the Egyptian people’s struggle by joining the
international day of action of the ITUC and will continue until the people
win a final victory.

“Transition now, respect
the will of the people!”

Thousands pledge support for people of Egypt and Tunisia

By Thandi Winston, Dakar

February11, 2011 – TerraViva – Delegates attending the World Social Forum in
Dakar have affirmed their support and active solidarity with the people
of Tunisia, Egypt and the Arab world. The social movement assembly of the World Social Forum adopted a
declaration that said “the Arab world has risen up to the demand a true
democracy and build the people’s power."

“Their struggles are lighting the path to another world, free from oppression and exploitation”, the statement reads. “Inspired by the struggles of the peoples of Tunisia and Egypt, we
call for March 20th to be made a day of international solidarity with
the uprisings of the Arab and African people, whose advance supports the
struggles of all peoples.”

Thousands of delegates attended the assembly at the main venue at
Cheikh Anta Diop University. Loud applause broke out as the statement
was read out. Some delegates had expressed concerned that the events in North
Africa were not granted enough time for discussion time at the forum.
Others said the assembly’s statement goes a long way in showing
solidarity to the people of Tunisia and Egypt.

Following the reading out of the statement, Mamdouh Habashi, an
Egyptian activist who had spent several days at the focal point of the
Egyptian protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square just before coming to Dakar,
addressed the assembly.

“The revolution is not yet over. Mubarak is still in power”, he said. Habashi said the “people of Egypt are at war with the imperialists
and need the support of the African people and the world”. Change in
Egypt, he said, is an earthquake taking place that will change the
world. He underlined that pressure must be put on countries that still
supported Mubarak.

Picking up the theme, Habashi’s fellow Egyptian and activist, the
public intellectual Samir Amin, echoed these sentiments but urged
activists to find ways to offer effective solidarity.

“It is not enough to show solidarity with the people of Egypt, we
have to also change the U.S. and other powers. It is only through doing
this that we can truly help the people of Egypt.”

When she took the floor, feminist and activist Pumi Mtetwa said the
social movements of South Africa and Southern Africa also support the
people of Egypt and Tunisia.

“Unity in struggle and struggle in unity,” she declared. “We pledge
our solidarity to the people and support the assembly’s declaration”.

Habiya Sheg from Algeria said, “The people of Egypt have taken the
decision [to resist] and will not go back and this is about political
sovereignty.”

Thousands of delegates have been urged to support a march on the
Egyptian embassy in Dakar at the end of the WSF’s final proceedings.